Contraception

Tips about Menstrual cycle, Safe periods and various methods of contraception.

I am Dr. Indu Taneja working as a senior consultant in Fortis Escort Hospital Faridabad. My special interests are high risk obstetrics and laparoscopic surgery. Today I will talk about contraception little about the normal menstrual cycle.

A normal cycle is of approximately 28 days so the ovulation means the egg formation occurs in the middle of the cycle that is approximately 14 days but this day is not fixed it can be one or two days prior or one or two days later. So let’s say if it happens on 14th day four or five days before the egg formation and four or five days after the egg formation is the period which is the danger zone that means the pregnancy can happen in this period if you have intercourse during this period so this is the danger zone. So if one happens to have the relation in this period one can use emergency contraception which is you must be all aware of pill 72 or unwanted pill which is to be taken 72 hours within this period the pregnancy is to be avoided.

Next will be other contraception like the barrier method which is normally condom. This is not the foolproof method. This has the maximum failure rate approximately 35 percent. This is mainly effective in the period when the patient is breastfeeding. At this period this is the common effective method. Then there are the other methods you have heard about the pills and the Copper T. The pills are the second commonest method in which every day one has to take the pill for 21 days. The main drawback of the pill is you have to remember you have to take it on a fixed time and fixed day. You should not miss even a single dose. If one misses a dose you can have breakthrough bleeding and the failure also happens. So this is the main drawback of the pills but otherwise the safety profile is very good.

Other method is the IUCD that is the Copper T which is inserted inside the uterus. This has again the same efficacy as the pills but the advantage over the pills is you are not supposed to remember this. This once inserted can be kept and can be used for three years to five years. Government has also provided the intra uterine device which is effective for five years it is as effective as the contraceptive pills but little drawback of this is sometime this can cause irregular bleeding or the heavy bleeding during the periods which can be taken care of giving some kind of medications.

If you need any further clarification or any kind of clarification or consultation you can consult me on lybrate.